Last edit by: WineCountryUA
This thread is for discussing the implications of UA's ESA policy changes. This thread is not a discussion of the validity of the ESA concept or rants about those faking ESA (considering the new tighten rules).
UA will be removing the Emotional Support Animal options 28 February 2021 per new guidance from DOT
U.S. Department of Transportation Announces Final Rule on Traveling by Air with Service Animals -- Dec 2020
an airline non-specific thread such as The Definitive Discussion of Emotional Support Animals on Airlines (Archive -- old DOT rules)
Service and Support Animals in the Cabin (2021 onwards)
========================================= OLD data ================================================== ====
This thread is for discussing what it takes to properly qualify for ESA under UA's rules and what to expect as an ESA traveler. This thread is not a discussion of the validity of the ESA concept or rants about those faking ESA (considering the new tighten rules). Those issues are better raised in
UA's (July 2020)
UA will be removing the Emotional Support Animal options 28 February 2021 per new guidance from DOT
Emotional support animals
United will continue to accept emotional support animals for reservations booked before January 11, 2021, for travel on or before February 28, 2021, in accordance with rules from the U.S. Department of Transportation. No emotional support animals will be transported after February 28, 2021. United is committed to ensuring safe and accessible travel experiences for all of our customers.
To request to travel with an emotional support animal for travel before February 28, for trips booked on January 10, please send required support documents to [email protected].
United will continue to accept emotional support animals for reservations booked before January 11, 2021, for travel on or before February 28, 2021, in accordance with rules from the U.S. Department of Transportation. No emotional support animals will be transported after February 28, 2021. United is committed to ensuring safe and accessible travel experiences for all of our customers.
To request to travel with an emotional support animal for travel before February 28, for trips booked on January 10, please send required support documents to [email protected].
an airline non-specific thread such as The Definitive Discussion of Emotional Support Animals on Airlines (Archive -- old DOT rules)
Service and Support Animals in the Cabin (2021 onwards)
========================================= OLD data ================================================== ====
This thread is for discussing what it takes to properly qualify for ESA under UA's rules and what to expect as an ESA traveler. This thread is not a discussion of the validity of the ESA concept or rants about those faking ESA (considering the new tighten rules). Those issues are better raised in
UA's (July 2020)
Emotional support and psychiatric service animals
Emotional support animals and psychiatric service animals provide emotional, psychiatric or cognitive support for individuals with disabilities, but may or may not have task-specific training with respect to a disability.
Emotional support and psychiatric service animals are also accepted in cabin for qualified individuals with a disability if certain information and additional documentation that United requires are provided in advance of travel. In addition to providing a letter from a licensed medical/mental health professional, customers need to provide a veterinary health form documenting the health and vaccination records for the animal as well as confirming that the animal has been trained to behave properly in a public setting. With prior documentation and clearance, a customer may travel with no more than one emotional support animal that is usually either a cat or dog (any other animal species would need to comply with DOT regulations and will be evaluated for accommodation on a case-by-case basis) and must be of a minimum age of four months. If the animal weighs more than 65 pounds, United will evaluate on a case-by-case basis whether the animal may safely travel on the passenger’s scheduled flight(s). Multiple emotional support animals for a single customer are not permitted. Whether an emotional support or psychiatric service animal is safely capable of traveling on flights eight hours or more in duration will be determined on a case-by-case basis. Passengers may be held responsible for cleaning fees required as a result of any sanitation issues caused by their emotional support or psychiatric service animal’s travel. United will consider all relevant information, including information from the required documentation, when determining whether an emotional support animal or psychiatric service animal may safely travel in the aircraft cabin on the passenger’s itinerary.
Additional documentation beyond United’s requirements described above may also be required for an animal traveling to an international destination, Hawaii or certain other locations. Please note that not all international destinations allow the entry of animals, and restrictions vary by country. Customers should contact the appropriate consulate or embassy to make sure that all necessary procedures are followed.
An animal must sit at the customer's feet without protruding into the aisle, the foot space of adjacent passengers, or certain other areas that must remain unobstructed to comply with safety regulations. Customers may elect to use an approved in-cabin kennel for smaller animals. Unless in a carrying container, the animal will need to be leashed at all times in the airport and in flight. Exit row seating is prohibited. Refer to the U.S. Department of Transportation 14 CFR Part 382 or contact United for additional information.
Customers traveling with an emotional support animal or a psychiatric service animal must submit the required documentation at least 48 hours before the customer’s flight via our secure portal. If we are unable to validate the documentation, if the customer does not provide completed documentation, or if advance notification is not given, the animal may be denied boarding or may be eligible to be transported as a pet, and pet fees may apply. Contact the United Accessibility Desk at 1-800-228-2744 if you have any questions about this process or are booking a flight within 48 hours of the departure time. See Rule 16 of United’s Contract of Carriage for additional information on service animals.
Forms and documents for emotional support and psychiatric service animals
If you’re traveling with an emotional support or psychiatric service animal, you’ll need to complete these forms and submit them for approval through our secure portal: Your forms will be valid one year from the date of the earliest signed authorizations, and you’ll need to submit them at least 48 hours before each trip that you take with your support animal, but the earlier the better. Please bring your original forms with you while you’re traveling and be prepared to show them if we ask to see them.
Emotional support animals and psychiatric service animals provide emotional, psychiatric or cognitive support for individuals with disabilities, but may or may not have task-specific training with respect to a disability.
Emotional support and psychiatric service animals are also accepted in cabin for qualified individuals with a disability if certain information and additional documentation that United requires are provided in advance of travel. In addition to providing a letter from a licensed medical/mental health professional, customers need to provide a veterinary health form documenting the health and vaccination records for the animal as well as confirming that the animal has been trained to behave properly in a public setting. With prior documentation and clearance, a customer may travel with no more than one emotional support animal that is usually either a cat or dog (any other animal species would need to comply with DOT regulations and will be evaluated for accommodation on a case-by-case basis) and must be of a minimum age of four months. If the animal weighs more than 65 pounds, United will evaluate on a case-by-case basis whether the animal may safely travel on the passenger’s scheduled flight(s). Multiple emotional support animals for a single customer are not permitted. Whether an emotional support or psychiatric service animal is safely capable of traveling on flights eight hours or more in duration will be determined on a case-by-case basis. Passengers may be held responsible for cleaning fees required as a result of any sanitation issues caused by their emotional support or psychiatric service animal’s travel. United will consider all relevant information, including information from the required documentation, when determining whether an emotional support animal or psychiatric service animal may safely travel in the aircraft cabin on the passenger’s itinerary.
Additional documentation beyond United’s requirements described above may also be required for an animal traveling to an international destination, Hawaii or certain other locations. Please note that not all international destinations allow the entry of animals, and restrictions vary by country. Customers should contact the appropriate consulate or embassy to make sure that all necessary procedures are followed.
An animal must sit at the customer's feet without protruding into the aisle, the foot space of adjacent passengers, or certain other areas that must remain unobstructed to comply with safety regulations. Customers may elect to use an approved in-cabin kennel for smaller animals. Unless in a carrying container, the animal will need to be leashed at all times in the airport and in flight. Exit row seating is prohibited. Refer to the U.S. Department of Transportation 14 CFR Part 382 or contact United for additional information.
Customers traveling with an emotional support animal or a psychiatric service animal must submit the required documentation at least 48 hours before the customer’s flight via our secure portal. If we are unable to validate the documentation, if the customer does not provide completed documentation, or if advance notification is not given, the animal may be denied boarding or may be eligible to be transported as a pet, and pet fees may apply. Contact the United Accessibility Desk at 1-800-228-2744 if you have any questions about this process or are booking a flight within 48 hours of the departure time. See Rule 16 of United’s Contract of Carriage for additional information on service animals.
Forms and documents for emotional support and psychiatric service animals
If you’re traveling with an emotional support or psychiatric service animal, you’ll need to complete these forms and submit them for approval through our secure portal: Your forms will be valid one year from the date of the earliest signed authorizations, and you’ll need to submit them at least 48 hours before each trip that you take with your support animal, but the earlier the better. Please bring your original forms with you while you’re traveling and be prepared to show them if we ask to see them.
Accessible travel
Find out more about assistance for customers with disabilities, how to request assistance and safety requirements. If you have questions about travel plans, contact our Accessibility Desk at [email protected], or you may call 1-313-234-6992 (charges may apply) or 1-800-228-2744 within the U.S. or Canada. Elsewhere, call your local United Customer Contact Center and ask for the Accessibility Desk.
Find out more about assistance for customers with disabilities, how to request assistance and safety requirements. If you have questions about travel plans, contact our Accessibility Desk at [email protected], or you may call 1-313-234-6992 (charges may apply) or 1-800-228-2744 within the U.S. or Canada. Elsewhere, call your local United Customer Contact Center and ask for the Accessibility Desk.
UA removing Emotional Support Animals option 28 Feb 2021 per new DOT rules Jan 2020
#168
FlyerTalk Evangelist, Ambassador: World of Hyatt
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: NJ
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, Fairmont Lifetime Plat, UA Silver, dirt elsewhere
Posts: 46,919
I have traveled with my 80 lbs Golden before - I needed to get him certified as an ESA (anyone who knows me would agree to that!) - but it is only because there are no other reasonable options for those of us with larger pets who need to travel...... I even offered UA to pay the "pet in cabin" fee - but they said no.....
#169
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Between AUS, EWR, and YTO In a little twisty maze of airline seats, all alike.. but I wanna go home with the armadillo
Programs: CO, NW, & UA forum moderator emeritus
Posts: 35,432
Is that according to the current rules or the soon-to-be-implemented sane rules cited abve?
#170
Join Date: Oct 2018
Programs: United 1k, HH Diamond, Bonvoy Ambassador and LT-Gold
Posts: 1,661
In the few (<6 times) that I have traveled with him, my dog can sit in my foot space - in part since I either buy/upgrade to First or travel with someone else and between the two of us, there is enough room.
it is also very easy to get pets certified at ESA - even in my case it is not a hard stretch to see the bond..... for those of you who question this concept - how would you feel if similar rules were applied to traveling with your children or spouse..... although, I am sure some of you would not mind traveling with your family in cargo...
also keep in mind - I (and others who I have discuss this topic with) - are not looking for a loophole (well, kinda) - we are just looking for a reasonable, acceptable, and SAFE way to travel with a pet for those few times that it is needed....
-m
it is also very easy to get pets certified at ESA - even in my case it is not a hard stretch to see the bond..... for those of you who question this concept - how would you feel if similar rules were applied to traveling with your children or spouse..... although, I am sure some of you would not mind traveling with your family in cargo...
also keep in mind - I (and others who I have discuss this topic with) - are not looking for a loophole (well, kinda) - we are just looking for a reasonable, acceptable, and SAFE way to travel with a pet for those few times that it is needed....
-m
#171
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist, Virtuoso Travel Agent, Commercial Pilot
Posts: 2,117
Airlines would no longer be permitted to require psychiatric service animal users to provide a letter from a licensed mental health professional of the passenger’s need for the animal.
#172
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.997MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,859
It appears the DOT is removing the concept of ESA, it is a trained service animal or a pet
- Defines a service animal as a dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of a person with a disability;
- No longer considers an emotional support animal to be a service animal;
- Requires airlines to treat psychiatric service animals the same as other service animals;
#173
Join Date: Jun 2014
Programs: UA MM
Posts: 4,129
In the few (<6 times) that I have traveled with him, my dog can sit in my foot space - in part since I either buy/upgrade to First or travel with someone else and between the two of us, there is enough room.
it is also very easy to get pets certified at ESA - even in my case it is not a hard stretch to see the bond..... for those of you who question this concept - how would you feel if similar rules were applied to traveling with your children or spouse..... although, I am sure some of you would not mind traveling with your family in cargo...
also keep in mind - I (and others who I have discuss this topic with) - are not looking for a loophole (well, kinda) - we are just looking for a reasonable, acceptable, and SAFE way to travel with a pet for those few times that it is needed....
-m
it is also very easy to get pets certified at ESA - even in my case it is not a hard stretch to see the bond..... for those of you who question this concept - how would you feel if similar rules were applied to traveling with your children or spouse..... although, I am sure some of you would not mind traveling with your family in cargo...
also keep in mind - I (and others who I have discuss this topic with) - are not looking for a loophole (well, kinda) - we are just looking for a reasonable, acceptable, and SAFE way to travel with a pet for those few times that it is needed....
-m
Separately, when is it needed to travel with a pet?
#174
Join Date: Oct 2018
Programs: United 1k, HH Diamond, Bonvoy Ambassador and LT-Gold
Posts: 1,661
not familiar with UA PetSafe service - although I heard something about Delta offering something, but this is a UA forum
regarding "need":
1) recent job relocation across country in which a >1000 mile drive was felt to be less than ideal
2) emergent trips for work/personal in which I could not find someone to watch him either on very short notice or for a prolonged period of time
3) not to mention that there are some "personal" reasons for which I would like to travel with him
... I can understand and appreciate the question, but again - I dont want this discussion to evolve into the subjective reasons why some of us want or "need" to travel with pets
-m
regarding "need":
1) recent job relocation across country in which a >1000 mile drive was felt to be less than ideal
2) emergent trips for work/personal in which I could not find someone to watch him either on very short notice or for a prolonged period of time
3) not to mention that there are some "personal" reasons for which I would like to travel with him
... I can understand and appreciate the question, but again - I dont want this discussion to evolve into the subjective reasons why some of us want or "need" to travel with pets
-m
#175
Join Date: May 2010
Location: AVP & PEK
Programs: UA 1K 1.9MM
Posts: 6,360
I reckon United will restore PetSafe once travel picks up and/or the new DOT rules kick in.
As of right now, PetSafe is still suspended: https://www.united.com/ual/en/US/fly...s/petsafe.html
"We’ve suspended PetSafe travel
As travel demand and government restrictions continue to impact our schedule, we've suspended all PetSafe and military pet transportation until further notice. We'll continue to monitor the situation and provide you with updates on our PetSafe page.
Last updated July 7, 2020"
As WineCountry stated: the biggest take-away is that airlines do no longer have to accept 'untrained' ESAs.
Health, behavior, training and the ability of the service animal to either not relieve itself, or be able to relieve itself in a sanitary manner has to be DOCUMENTED.
Airlines will be able to set size limitations (according to my interpretation).
As of right now, PetSafe is still suspended: https://www.united.com/ual/en/US/fly...s/petsafe.html
"We’ve suspended PetSafe travel
As travel demand and government restrictions continue to impact our schedule, we've suspended all PetSafe and military pet transportation until further notice. We'll continue to monitor the situation and provide you with updates on our PetSafe page.
Last updated July 7, 2020"
As WineCountry stated: the biggest take-away is that airlines do no longer have to accept 'untrained' ESAs.
Health, behavior, training and the ability of the service animal to either not relieve itself, or be able to relieve itself in a sanitary manner has to be DOCUMENTED.
Airlines will be able to set size limitations (according to my interpretation).
#176
FlyerTalk Evangelist, Ambassador: World of Hyatt
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: NJ
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, Fairmont Lifetime Plat, UA Silver, dirt elsewhere
Posts: 46,919
That really makes no sense... Perhaps they mean a complete description of the need (diagnosis) rather than saying there is a need.
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Dec 3, 2020 at 3:02 pm Reason: merging consecutive posts by the same member
#177
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist, Virtuoso Travel Agent, Commercial Pilot
Posts: 2,117
The attached forms will be the only documentation that the airline is allowed to request. Both are signed solely by the passenger/animal handler. There's a lot more detail about it in the final rule here: https://www.transportation.gov/sites...nal%20Rule.pdf
#178
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: San Francisco
Programs: UA MM Plat, UA 1MM, Hilton Lifetime Gold, Marriott Gold, Hertz Gold, CLEAR, AS MVP Gold
Posts: 3,621
Nope. The entire process is now self-certified under penalty of perjury. They address it specifically in the rule--they say that requiring third party documentation creates an undue burden.
The attached forms will be the only documentation that the airline is allowed to request. Both are signed solely by the passenger/animal handler. There's a lot more detail about it in the final rule here: https://www.transportation.gov/sites...nal%20Rule.pdf
The attached forms will be the only documentation that the airline is allowed to request. Both are signed solely by the passenger/animal handler. There's a lot more detail about it in the final rule here: https://www.transportation.gov/sites...nal%20Rule.pdf
Last edited by nomad420; Dec 7, 2020 at 6:11 pm Reason: typo
#180
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Between AUS, EWR, and YTO In a little twisty maze of airline seats, all alike.. but I wanna go home with the armadillo
Programs: CO, NW, & UA forum moderator emeritus
Posts: 35,432
Nope. The entire process is now self-certified under penalty of perjury. They address it specifically in the rule--they say that requiring third party documentation creates an undue burden.
The attached forms will be the only documentation that the airline is allowed to request. Both are signed solely by the passenger/animal handler. There's a lot more detail about it in the final rule here: https://www.transportation.gov/sites...nal%20Rule.pdf
The attached forms will be the only documentation that the airline is allowed to request. Both are signed solely by the passenger/animal handler. There's a lot more detail about it in the final rule here: https://www.transportation.gov/sites...nal%20Rule.pdf
I'm sure that some passengers do need these animals, but it's been quite clear to me that MOST of the need for "emotional support" animals have been related to the need to support the level of the bank account by not having to pay to transport a pet,